EXCLUSIVE: Wes Brown on Manchester United's Next Generation, Amorim's Future and Anfield Prediction

This week, the team at Free Bets caught up with former Manchester United defender Wes Brown to get his verdict on the current state of play at Old Trafford — from Kobbie Mainoo’s struggles for minutes, to Rúben Amorim’s early challenges, and United’s huge weekend clash away at Liverpool.
Here’s what Brown had to say when speaking exclusively to Free Bets…
Kobbie Mainoo’s Frustrations and Future
Q: There’s been plenty of talk around Kobbie Mainoo and his lack of game time under Amorim. What do you make of the situation?
Wes: Listen, Kobbie’s a young, very talented lad. Everyone knows that. He’ll be desperate to play, especially after the impact he made last season, but there’s clearly something going on behind the scenes. Maybe the manager wants different things from him, maybe he’s working on parts of his game. Whatever it is, I just hope there’s good communication between them.
At his age, he needs football — it’s as simple as that. He’s not going to develop sitting on the bench. Every fan wants to see him play. When you’ve got that kind of ability, you should be on the pitch.
Q: Is there any concern around his physicality or readiness to play every week in the Premier League?
Wes: He’s still young — 19, 20 — so he’s nowhere near his peak physically. That comes later. But you can see the talent. He’s got that calmness and confidence that not many players have at his age. Maybe he’s not fully there fitness‑wise, but he’ll get there with time and games. It’s about working hard in training, listening to the manager, and taking the opportunity when it comes.
Q: Some fans worry he’s being held back too much — could that lead to him wanting out?
Wes: No, I don’t think so. There’ll be clubs watching him, of course — every top young English player has eyes on them — but Kobbie wants to play for Manchester United. He loves the club, and this is just part of his learning curve. It’s about patience, putting the work in, and staying ready. When his time comes again, he’ll take it.
United’s Trip to Anfield: A True Test of Character
Q: It’s Liverpool away this weekend — always the big one. How do you see this game going?
Wes: It’s massive. For me, Liverpool away was always the biggest league game of the season. The atmosphere, the rivalry, the pressure — it’s all there. Liverpool are still the favourites, no matter what people say, but that might actually suit United. Sometimes going there as underdogs can take a bit of pressure off.
The key is the start. You have to calm the crowd down, get your foot on the ball, and take the sting out of it. If you can nick an early goal, it changes everything. But you have to stay switched on — no mistakes. That’s what’s been killing United this season.
Q: Mistakes have been a big talking point this year. How costly have they been?
Wes: Massive. They’ve been the difference between winning and losing games. When United play without making those individual errors, you can see the quality. The problem is it’s happened too often. They need to relax, trust each other, and play their football. Anfield’s the perfect place to show that character.
Q: What’s your view on the new goalkeeper — he looked confident against Sunderland.
Wes: He did, and that’s huge. A calm, confident keeper makes everyone better. You could feel it straight away — he settled the backline down. When defenders trust the keeper, it spreads through the whole team. That kind of presence has been missing at times, so hopefully he can bring that consistency.
Backing for Amorim and the Bigger Picture
Q: Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly backed Amorim to continue for at least three years. Do you think that’s the right call?
Wes: Yeah, I think it’s the right thing to do. The noise around the club has been non‑stop — questions about the manager, the style, the results — but he’s only just come in. Giving him time sends the right message. It settles the place down. You can’t rebuild overnight, and United have tried that too many times before.
He’s got a plan. The owners clearly believe in it, and that backing takes pressure off everyone. Now it’s about performances and consistency. Win against Liverpool and people start talking differently again — that’s how quickly football changes.
Q: How important would a result at Anfield be for Amorim and the players?
Wes: Massive. Win there and it changes everything — confidence, momentum, the mood around the club. It’s not just three points; it’s a statement. United need that right now. But everyone has to play well. You can’t have passengers at Anfield. Every single player has to be on it.
Fresh Faces and the Fight for Rhythm
Q: How do you assess United’s new‑look attack?
Wes: There’s real potential. The right side especially — the pace, the trickery, the link‑up play — it’s a big threat. You can see they’re still gelling, but there’s a flow developing that wasn’t there last season. They just need rhythm — back‑to‑back wins, goals, confidence. That’s how you turn a decent team into a good one.
Score early, play with belief, and stop giving away cheap goals — it’s not rocket science. Once they do that, everything else will fall into place.
United’s Next Generation: JJ Gabriel, Chido Obi and Shea Lacey
Q: You’ve spent time around the academy — who should fans keep an eye on?
Wes: There’s so much talent coming through. JJ Gabriel’s one that really stands out for me. Confident, clever on the ball, always seems to have time — you can’t teach that. The next step is pushing him into senior training, getting him around the first team. He’s got something special.
Then there’s Chido Obi — another exciting forward. He’ll be frustrated after new signings limited his chances, but he’s got the ability. He just needs to keep working and developing physically. He’s not a ‘full man’ yet, as I like to say. Give him another year and he’ll be ready.
And Shea Lacey — brilliant talent. Getting the call with England recently will have done him the world of good. It’s those experiences that take you up a level. United’s youth system is still producing players who can make the jump, which is great to see.
Final Word — Can United Get a Result?
Wes: Of course they can. Liverpool are favourites, but that doesn’t mean they’ll win. United just need to play with belief. Be brave, cut out the errors, and take chances when they come.
If they do that, they can get something from the game — and who knows, maybe even make a statement.
Everybody has to play well to beat Liverpool at Anfield. No hiding. Be positive, be clinical — and make it count.
Joshua Kerr
Having completed a bachelor's degree in sports journalism and over five years of industry experience, Josh made the transition into digital PR and iGaming back in 2021 and has worked on leading award-winning PR campaigns and projects for industry leaders, such as Betway, working within their UK, US and Canadian markets. Now working within GDC Group, Josh is part of the PR activation process for Freebets.com, the home of the best betting sites.